Left with no reward for his heroics, Scott Bain could have departed the Mestalla Stadium with chin pressed against his chest.

But the Celtic goalkeeper’s dominant emotion was not despondency. Instead, he felt a sense of pride at the performance his side delivered in a 1-0 defeat defined by the 37th-minute dismissal of Jeremy Toljan.

A highly-promising start in a new tactical shape – 5-4-1 when out of possession and 3-4-3 on the ball – had raised hope that a miraculous comeback might just be possible.

Scott Bain was proud of the performance that Celtic produced against Valencia

Any chance of overturning the 2-0 first-leg deficit disappeared, however, in the moment Toljan received a debatable second yellow card from German referee Deniz Aytekin.

A man down in one of Spanish football’s most storied venues, the roof could have caved in on Brendan Rodgers’ side.

But they ultimately exited the Europa League with heads aloft as their depleted defence was only breached by Kevin Gameiro’s 70th-minute strike.

Bain had much to do with that. A superb save to thwart Daniel Parejo’s deflected drive was followed by another sparkling stop to keep out Santi Mina. On just his second European appearance, it underlined why he has become Rodgers’ first choice following the winter break.

‘There is disappointment and some frustration with the end result,’ said the 27-year-old.

‘But despite those feelings, we can be proud of ourselves with the performance we gave.

‘We were the better team for the 30 minutes before the sending-off and controlled the game.

‘At that stage, we were doing well and it was disappointing to see Jeremy go off because we felt the red card was very soft.

Bain believes Celtic were the dominant side until the dismissal of Jeremy Toljan

‘That was a setback at that time, but we didn’t fold or drop our heads.

‘Afterwards, when we went down to ten men, we still pulled together and came through again.

‘We can be proud and we have learned a lot from the two games.

‘Obviously, we need to be better again in the future, but we showed that we are more than capable at this level.

‘It might have been the best we have played all season and it was really good to watch.

‘It was sad because, had we come away with a 0-0 given the way we played, it would have been deserved and that was the disappointing part.’ 

Celtic’s first-leg performance was marked by sloppy spells of possession that gifted Valencia control. That aspect was not entirely perfect in the Mestalla, but there was an admirable assurance about the way they sought to stick to their passing principles.

Celtic were left dejected after exiting the Europa League but showed some encouraging signs

‘We continued to play from the back when it was on, continued to be brave – even when we were down to ten men,’ added Bain.

‘It was a tough stadium and a tough place to play, but the pitch was sensational and like a bowling green and we moved the ball quickly on the surface.

‘We always believe in our ability and quality and we don’t listen to outside noise.

‘We are confident and brave enough to take the ball in tight situations and, as I said, we were in control of the game until the red card.

‘We played right until the end, dug deep and also played great stuff at times.’ Bain has been given a rapid education in top level standards since replacing Craig Gordon. His European adventure may have been short, but he feels it will serve him well as he seeks to build upon his positive start to 2019.

‘Personally, I think that I learned from the last game,’ he said, reflecting on the first leg seven days previously.

Bain feels the display gives Brendan Rodgers’ side something to look forward to in Europe next season

‘I felt my decision-making was better in terms of when to play and when to go longer. Saves come and it is good to make them.

‘We are always learning and we are a young team who are full of young pros who are getting better and picking up more and more.

‘We are all confident in our ability and it is just about continuing to learn.

‘I felt that, from the first leg at home, we learned a lot during the following seven days and used it in the second leg. That is what you have to do and we showed that we can do it a high level.

‘Obviously, it was a different game when the man was sent off, but the boys can take great heart from the way we played and it gives us something to look forward to in Europe next season.’

We had Chris Gayle under control during Barbados run-fest, claims England centurion Jason Roy

• Chris Gayle smashed 12 sixes in the first one-day international against England
• But did the opener cost West Indies victory in the run-laden clash in Barbados
• He used up 64 dot balls in his innings of 135 in Wednesday’s six-wicket defeat 
• Jason Roy, who also made a century said: ‘We were very relaxed about him’

By

Paul Newman for the Daily Mail

Published:
17:26 EST, 21 February 2019

|
Updated:
18:53 EST, 21 February 2019

It is the question that haunts West Indies before Friday’s second one-day international. Could Chris Gayle really have smashed 12 sixes yet still cost them victory against England in the first extraordinary run-laden match here?

Such is the modern game, and England’s ability to chase just about any 50-over target, that the man who calls himself the ‘Universe Boss’ found himself at the centre of West Indies’ inquest, even though he hit 135 in Wednesday’s six-wicket defeat.

So expert are Eoin Morgan’s England at chasing that West Indies were made to rue Gayle’s slow, almost Geoff Boycott-like start, and the astonishing contrast that he used up 64 dot balls in his innings while smashing 12 deliveries for six.

Chris Gayle used up 64 dot balls in his innings of 135, while smashing 12 deliveries for six

West Indies’ total of 360 for eight was clearly not enough as soon as England hit their stride, even though it meant they had to pull off their record 50-over chase and the fourth-highest in ODI history to win with eight balls to spare. And they slowed up with the winning post in sight.

It was also noticed that Gayle, whose body is creaking at 39, barely fielded, particularly when England’s chase was at its most intense, and the umpires need to keep a close eye on his absences from the action in this series.

England’s attitude towards Gayle was revealed afterwards when Jason Roy, who reached three figures in 35 balls fewer, said: ‘We were very relaxed about him because I don’t think he ever got away from us.

Gayle was eventually bowled by Ben Stokes and England went on to chase down their 360  

ENGLAND T20 SQUAD

England T20 squad to face West Indies in St Lucia (March 5) and St Kitts (March 8 & 10): Morgan (capt), Ali, Bairstow (wkt), Billings, T Curran, Denly, Hales, Jordan, Malan, Plunkett, Rashid, Root, Willey, Wood.

‘He smoked it and played really well but never pulled away from our bowlers.’

The same could not be said for the Surrey man, who has now scored centuries in the warm-up and first ODI here. It is form that could make him a World Cup hero this summer, as well as catapult him into England’s Ashes plans.

‘I’m batting as well as ever,’ said Roy, who played just a single defensive shot before reaching his ton on Wednesday.

‘That’ll be up there as one of my favourite innings, especially chasing such a big total. I’ve been in a good mental space and hitting them in the middle without getting runs, so it’s been pleasing and satisfying to make such a good start here.

‘When you’re chasing 360, you can’t have too many negative thoughts but I was just flowing.

England opener Jason Roy (above) reached three figures in 35 balls fewer than Gayle

‘I think the way we simplify things makes it easier. Eoin Morgan stood up in the dressing room at the halfway stage and said that, with the wind and fast outfield, it would be more like chasing 320. So we thought, “OK, 320 is still an ask, but with our line-up and capabilities we can chase it”.’

Roy will miss the three Twenty20 matches against West Indies that finish this tour to be at the birth of his first child and national selector Ed Smith had to defend Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes’ absences from the squad, even though they will be playing in the Indian Premier League.

STATS BOMB 

3 – Players who have scored 1,000 ODI runs for England since January 2018: 

Roy (1,017)

Root (1,048)

Bairstow (1,059)

‘I have not favoured franchise cricket over international cricket,’ insisted Smith. ‘The contracts Jos and Ben had with their franchises pre-date my involvement.

‘With a busy year coming up, I’ve accepted the strong recommendations of the head coach to rest these guys now.’

One man who will be playing in the short-form games in St Lucia and St Kitts is Joe Root, even though he is a prime candidate for a break at the start of his busiest and most important year as an England player, with a World Cup and Ashes on home soil.

‘Joe is an absolutely critical asset for English cricket in the very big 2019 summer,’ added Smith. ‘His form and preparation are essential for England, so we did discuss resting him, but he is very keen to play.

‘He feels playing in the white-ball sides offers a different experience from captaining the Test side and he likes that blend.’

 

 

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